The 12th Man — Norway
Baalsrud crosses the Swedish border to safety after months in the Norwegian Arctic, arriving with toes amputated and nearly dead — a feat of endurance that became a symbol of Norwegian resistance.
Baalsrud's escape required crossing the Lyngen Alps in winter — one of the world's most extreme environments. He was sheltered by the people of Bjørnskar and transported by reindeer sledge across the border to neutral Sweden. The local Norwegians who helped him risked immediate execution if caught. His survival against overwhelming odds made him a legendary figure of the Norwegian resistance.